Chapter 1

Part 1

"You do realise that your behaviour was," Janeway's deadly tone continued with words that matched perfectly - "once again, completely unacceptable?"

Captain Janeway sat at her ready room desk, a PADD in one hand, the slender fingers of the other lightly closed in a loose fist. Her voice had descended to its deepest limit, barely more than a growl. It would have stricken terror into the heart of any Starfleet officer who had ever graced the universe with their presence, had it been a Starfleet officer who faced her. Instead, Janeway's menacing, barely controlled fury was met with an icy blue stare and an expression that could have been carved from marble.

"Yes, Captain," replied Seven-of-Nine. "What is my punishment to be?" she enquired, as though asking what was for breakfast. The PADD hit the table with such force that it cracked, causing a crewman on the floor below to flinch, startled at the sudden noise. The infernal woman, however, just stood there, proudly erect, her hands locked together behind her back.

"For what? Which transgression are you asking about, Seven? Disobeying a direct order? Assaulting a senior officer – Chakotay is fine, by the way, since the Doctor put his face back together. Misuse of ship's equipment, unauthorised procurement of supplies – should I go on?"

The impassive Nordic face showed no emotion, not a blink of an eye, and this more than anything was the cause of Janeway's next statement. "I'm afraid this is one time too many." She looked down at her hands, and when the Captain raised her head again her grey-blue eyes locked onto Seven-of-Nine's. For the first time, a flicker of uncertainty passed over the Borg's fine features, and Janeway felt a tug of bizarre pleasure creep up from her stomach. She allowed a smirk to form on her lips, an unfamiliar expression for Janeway and one not at all befitting a Starfleet Captain.

"I'm ordering you to leave Voyager. I'll provide you with a shuttlecraft and some supplies. I don't care where you go, except that I never, ever, want to see you on my ship again. Understood?" Janeway was enjoying herself now, feeling a sadistic amusement at the Borg's evident dismay. Too proud to argue, too shocked to say anything at all, the tall woman turned on her heel and strode out of the ready room, the doors swishing shut behind her.

"And that's that," laughed Janeway to herself, leaning back in her chair and resting her booted feet on her desk amid the shattered remains of the PADD. Shaking her head and smiling, she closed her eyes. Janeway could have timed the predicted door beep to the nanosecond.

"Come in," she called, making no effort to rise or even sit in a more dignified manner. "Can I help you, Commander?" she asked sweetly of her first officer. A large, muscular man, he could use his strength much more effectively than he ever did, Janeway mused, making a mental note to discuss that in the future. He looked confused, and Janeway's amusement rose once again.

"Is there a problem, Commander?"

"You tell me," the man responded, approaching Janeway and regarding her intently.

"I don't think there is," she responded. If the man was too timid to say what was on his mind, she had no intention of helping him. Eventually, speaking slowly in a measured tone, he began again.

"Seven-of-Nine just informed me that you have ordered her to leave Voyager. Is that correct?"

"Yep," answered Janeway, the pitch of her voice conveying distracted boredom.

"Isn't that a bit…over the top, Captain?" he asked, still looking confused, as though he didn't really believe what he was hearing. At last Janeway took pity on him, mostly as it seemed the quickest way to get rid of him.

"She has committed too many offences, Chakotay. I don't want her on this ship any longer. I'm sorry if you have a problem with that, but I've made my decision. Now, if you'll excuse me-"

"Not yet, Kathryn. A decision like that can't be made so lightly, without some discussion and input from senior officers, including myself. Now are you going to call her back from the shuttle bay, or shall I?"

Janeway's anger rose at Chakotay's words. As before, it manifested through her voice, her tone and words, causing the First Officer to recoil as she uttered them. "I can understand why Seven hit you, Chakotay. You really can be most irritating at times. My order stands. Dismissed. Dismissed!" she repeated, raising the volume a small yet significant amount when he failed to move the first time. As Seven had before him, Chakotay left without a word.

Janeway yawned, the conversation already forgotten. Smiling again, she too exited the room, crossing the bridge to the turbolift. Chakotay was not present, and the Captain assumed that he was going to speak to Seven. She shrugged. It made no difference to her. "Tuvok, you have the bridge. I'm going for lunch."

Tuvok exchanged glances with Harry Kim before replying. Janeway would have to do something about that, too.

"Acknowledged, Captain."

Part 2

The mess hall was busy as the first lunch rotation got underway. Seeing her Chief Engineer and Tom Paris seated at a table, the Captain wound her compact frame between the tables and joined them without invitation, causing Torres to flick her eyes at her partner. Tom cleared his throat.

"Hello, Captain, it's nice of you to join us. Will you be trying Neelix's pie?" he asked, gesturing towards his own plate.

"I don't think so," answered Janeway, sneering disgustedly at the cooling remains. "I don't know what that hedgehog does to food, but once he's touched it, it generally stops being edible."

B'Elanna glanced at Tom for longer this time, her eyes wide with shock at the Captain's insulting comment. Privately she agreed with the sentiment, but she had never before heard such a cutting remark or personal insult from Janeway, or any senior officer for that matter with the possible exception of herself. But, thought Torres, at least the recipients of her lashing tongue actually deserved it, whereas that was just…totally inappropriate. Sensing Torres's discomfort, Tom sprang to his feet.

"Well, sorry Captain, but duty calls. Are you coming, B'Elanna?" She nodded, and forced a smile onto her face.

"See you later, Captain." The pair left Janeway alone, mirth cracking her face as she bit her lip and tried not to laugh. Her amusement quickly turned sour as she noticed the furry little Talaxian bumbling towards her, but she forced herself to greet him with a raised hand.

"What can I get you, Captain?" he asked jovially, and Janeway wanted to slap the silly grin off his face.

"Cheese on toast, and a pot of coffee," she replied, not looking at the chef as he peered at her good-naturedly.

"I'm afraid I don't have any cheese right now, Captain. Could I interest you in a nice-"

The Captain cut him off with a scowl and a voice, raised just enough that crewmembers at several surrounding tables looked across on hearing it. "Then replicate some," she said in a tone that was so cool it could have frozen hydrogen. Ignoring his injured expression she looked away, as though the Talaxian were so inconsequential that he didn't even merit a second glance.

"Coming right up, Captain." He hurried off, several concerned pairs of eyes following him, but most of their owners assuming he had said something to irk the Captain.

Part 3

After she had eaten the bland and frankly unsatisfying meal, Janeway strolled through the corridors and rode turbolifts in order to reach her destination, humming softly to herself as she walked. Though she had the beginnings of a headache, just a slight niggle behind her right ear, she felt quite content. Moving briskly, she strode into Main Engineering. The huge warp core dominated the room, emitting a constant low drone and the familiar blue light. Turning as she heard the doors open, Torres quickly crossed to where Janeway stood, smiling awkwardly.

"Ah, Captain, I wasn't expecting you."

"No, you wouldn't be. I like to pop up now and again unannounced, make sure you're not up to anything."

Janeway's words were odd, and before she had time to think, B'Elanna blurted out her reply. Recalling the earlier incident in the mess hall and Janeway's crude criticism, Torres belatedly wished that perhaps she hadn't asked anything more at all.

"And what do think I might be up to, Captain?" It was meant as a serious question and said in a fair, surprised manner, and the Chief Engineer was sorely unprepared for the answer.

"Oh, you know, insubordination, disobeying orders, forming a renegade faction, that sort of thing." The Captain wasn't even looking at Torres, but focusing her attention on the warp core.

"Captain, I – are you serious?" The normally feisty half-Klingon was extremely shocked, her cheeks paling. Janeway patted her arm in a condescending fashion, and if it had been anyone other than her Captain the scene would probably have ended in bloodshed. Instead, B'Elanna just waited, open-mouthed.

"Once a Maquis, B'Elanna…" Janeway didn't bother to finish the sentence, merely shrugging her shoulders as though it were the most normal thing in the world for her to say and walking off, the engineer staring at her back mutely as she went. Walking backwards at first, then turning to the doors and openly running, B'Elanna fled. Once she was in the corridor, safely away from Janeway's eyes, she tapped her comm badge breathlessly.

"Torres to Chakotay," she gasped, still unable to really believe the exchange that had just taken place.

"Chakotay here," came the masculine voice in response, and Torres attempted to force a semblance of calmness into her tone.

"I – well, it's – I just…" her words tailed off and she leaned against the cool wall, breathing deeply. How unbelievable would it sound over the comm system, explaining that the Captain had with a few words managed to insult her more deeply than anyone else aboard had managed even a tenth of? And not just her, but by extension all the other Maquis crewmembers aboard Voyager. After everything they had been through as a united crew?

"What is it, B'Elanna?" She had forgotten about Chakotay, and hastily she spoke again.

"Can I talk to you?" she asked carefully, deciding that this was a discussion that was best carried out in person.

"Of course. I'm on the bridge. Come up to the Captain's ready room."

Unsure that she wanted to be anywhere near one of the Captain's rooms, she agreed anyway and set off towards the nearest turbolift, glancing back several times to make sure that Janeway wasn't behind her.

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